Director Venkatesh is known for hardy masala potboilers in Kollywood.

His next Chanakya starring Sarath Kumar, which is nearing completion, is also in the same league.

Asked about the movie, Venkatesh says "Chanakya was a great political philosopher, a thinker and a great statesman. Hence the theme of my movie titled after him would also be intelligent one."

Sarath Kumar plays Chanakya, an auto-driver in the movie. He wins his enemies not with his fists but by his brain.

"In order to give life to the character played by Sarath Kumar in the movie, I had detailed discussions with writers including Panchu Arunachalam, Subha, Balakumaran and Sujatha, he says.

Though it is a commercial entertainer, the story has been dealt in a different manner, he says.